Helen and Harry Bayliss
Helen (née Fisher) and Harry Bayliss’ romance spans many decades. Helen shares their special story with a Palmerston North beginning and multigenerational connection to Massey.
“It is now fifty years (1972) since we started our Agricultural Science degrees at Massey University, Palmerston North. That does seem such a long time ago!
Even though we were doing the same degree (where our AG Sci group consisted of fifty guys and two girls), Harry and I did not get together until later in our second year of study. Harry moved into our male-dominated flat (four guys and Helen) part way through that year, and over time, the rest is history.
On graduating in mid-April 1976 in Palmerston North, we then gathered up our Massey mates and married a week later in Ohura, in the King Country backblocks.
From there, we went sharemilking in South Taranaki for five years before buying our first farm, which consisted of bare land (47 ha) in February 1981. It had to have grass planted, a cowshed built, and an old villa moved on – all before spring and calving began. We added onto this farm over time, enlarging this operation to 400 cows on 100 ha. Several other blocks of land were bought in the same area, with many sharemilkers working with us, and we have supported these young people to move up the dairy farming ladder, some into their own farm ownership.
Over many years, Harry was involved with dairy industry governance and Helen taught AGITO Business and Financial Planning to adult farming students in Taranaki.
Our three children all graduated from Massey University, Wendy studying Food Technology, Nigel Applied Science (both in Palmerston North), and Anna studying Fashion Design in Wellington.
We have established lifelong friendships with people we met at Massey, and over the years, have had several reunions with our fellow Ag Sci classmates. Long may this continue for as long as we are able.
We physically moved off our initial farm some fourteen years ago but continue to own it, and also own a lifestyle block on the outskirts of New Plymouth rearing and growing a few beef animals. We are not quite ready to give ‘farming’ away yet!”